CN102053554A

CN102053554A - Tourbillon mechanism and clockwork including a tourbillon mechanism

Info

Publication number: CN102053554A
Application number: CN2010105770279A
Authority: CN
Inventors: V·卡拉布雷斯
Original assignee: Blancpain SA
Current assignee: Blancpain SA
Priority date: 2009-10-26
Filing date: 2010-10-25
Publication date: 2011-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2030-10-25
Also published as: CN102053554B; EP2315081B1; US8337076B2; JP2011089994A; HK1157881A1; US20110096635A1; JP5346903B2; KR101208845B1; KR20110046306A; EP2315081A1

Abstract

The tourbillon mechanism is characterized in that it includes a toothed wheel (127; 227) and at least two toothed elements (125A, 125B; 225A, 225B, 225C) pivoting in the carriage (103), the toothed wheel, which meshes with the escape pinion (111 B), being freely mounted in the carriage in a coaxial position, and said at least two toothed elements (125A, 125B; 225A, 225B, 225C) being regularly spaced around said toothed wheel (127; 227) with which said toothed elements mesh, said at least two toothed elements each being designed to mesh with the fixed toothing (119; 219), so as to connect the escape pinion to the fixed toothing.

Description

Tourbillon and comprise the time-meter movement of this tourbillon

Technical field

The present invention relates to comprise the timer structure of escapement and hair-spring balance, escapement comprises escape wheel and escape wheel, escapement and hair-spring balance are installed in the rotation bracing frame, and this rotation bracing frame is designed on the framework that is equipped with the time-meter movement that drives going barrel pivot and by described driving going barrel driven in rotation; This timer structure also comprises ring tooth, is called fixed teeth, and described ring tooth is designed to be fixed on the rotation concentric position with respect to bracing frame on the framework, and escape wheel is designed to be connected to described fixed teeth by gear.

The mechanism that meets above-mentioned definition is commonly called tourbillon.

The invention still further relates to and comprise and drive going barrel, have the escapement of escape wheel and escape wheel and the time-meter movement of hair-spring balance, escapement and hair-spring balance are installed in the bracing frame that pivots on the framework of time-meter movement and are connected to the driving going barrel with moving, make bracing frame to drive with being rotated, escape wheel is connected to the fixing ring tooth that is integrally formed with framework by gear, and the rotation of described fixed teeth and bracing frame disposes with one heart.

The time-meter movement that meets above-mentioned definition is commonly called top flywheel watch and clock movement.

Background technology

The top flywheel clockwork that meets the definition that provides in the above-mentioned introduction is known.The purpose of tourbillon is to compensate the relevant variation of vertical position that is fixed with clock and watch.

In desirable clock and watch, the center of gravity of hair-spring balance system should be arranged on the rotation and at vibration processes and remain there regularly.When the agenda of hair-spring balance system and this ideal situation are not inconsistent, will observe variation, it depends on that clock and watch are with respect to vertical orientation.Certainly, the effect of terrestrial gravitation is that the center of gravity of rotation hair-spring balance system is returned downwards.Therefore, when balance stem during not at vertical position, the moment of torsion that gravity traction power changes, it acts on the escapement and changes the torsional strenght that the elasticity by the escapement hairspring produces.This phenomenon is to cause the major reason that occurs variation between the vertical position of clock and watch.

The function of tourbillon is in order to make variation reach balance, self to rotate and the escapement balance wheel assembly is relied on, thereby make the latter occupy all positions.Therefore very clear, the purpose of tourbillon is not the difference of eliminating between vertical position, but compensates this species diversity.

The Fig. 1 that duplicates from the www.horlogerie-suisse.com website shows known tourbillon.Tourbillon 1 comprises rotation bracing frame 3, and it is fixed in the rotating shaft of gear 15 coaxially, and is mounted between bearing 5,6 and rotates with described gear.Bracing frame 3 supports the device that is made of hair-spring balance 9 and

bar combination

11A, 12,13.Can observe, in illustrated tourbillon, hair-spring balance 9 is coaxial fixing with bracing frame 3.Yet, can know clearly that hair-spring balance similarly can be supported on eccentric position by bracing frame 3.

The gear of bracing frame 15 is connected to the going barrel (not shown) by the going train (only can see its 3rd wheel 17 among the figure) of clock and watch.Going barrel encapsulation mainspring barrel, it is designed to driven wheel driving-chain and tourbillon.Usually, the tourbillon of Fig. 1 occupies second position of taking turns in the going train of the clock and watch that are assigned to no tourbillon.Here it is why the gear of bracing frame 15 be commonly called the reason of second gear.

Fig. 1 also shows fixed gear 19 with the form of table hat, and fixed gear is adjusted and is fixed to the rotation concentric position with respect to bracing frame 3 on the motherboard 21.Also as can be seen, thus the tooth of fast pulley 19 penetrates between the blade of the escape wheel 11B that bracing frame supports and constitutes gearing.Because fast pulley 19 and escape wheel 11B engagement, therefore described fast pulley is called as second sometimes and takes turns.

Bracing frame 3 is subjected to acting on the driving force on the gear of bracing frame 15.When course of reaction, fixed teeth 19 applies reciprocal power in escape wheel 11B.Thereby as in traditional clock and watch, the escapement in the top flywheel clock and watch receives by the initial energy delivered of going barrel.In bracing frame 3, the role of escapement is conventional, and can be clear that tourbillon can be by the rotational speed of gear 11B control bracing frame, and gear 11B and fast pulley 19 mesh as planetary gear.Be clear that when clock and watch were in vertical position, bracing frame occupied all vertical positions continuously in its rotary course.So vertical error averages out.

Tourbillon has the advantage of variation between the compensation vertical position in theory.Yet of carrying out of applicant studies show that this advantage offset by the fluctuation in the power transfer process usually.These fluctuations are to be caused by the gap in the centre distance of escape wheel and fast pulley.This gap is because the use of conventional pivot causes that wherein pivot remains in the bearing with having the loose amount of certain side direction, thereby constitutes the planet-shaped gearing.

Fig. 2 A, 2B, 2C schematically show fast pulley 19 on three vertical positions that are arranged in bracing frame 3 (Fig. 2 is not shown) and the relative position of escape wheel 11B.In order to provide schematic example, the diameter of supposing two

pivot

23A, 23B of bracing frame 3 (Fig. 1) is 0.20mm, and the hole in the bearing 5,6 (Fig. 1) is 0.21mm.By the mode of example, suppose that also the pivot diameter of escapement wheels is 0.09mm, bearing has the hole of 0.10mm.Suppose further that also on the horizontal level of clock and watch, fast pulley and bracing frame are preferably concentric, the value of the centre distance " a " between fast pulley 19 and escape wheel 11B is 3.50mm.

Fig. 2 A shows in first vertical position of bracing frame escape wheel 11B and fast pulley 19 side by side.In this position, the pivot of bracing frame and escapement are in the same surface level.Because fast pulley and motherboard 21 are integrally formed, so it is not subjected to the influence of vertical position.Yet at vertical position, under the influence of gravity, the center of bracing frame relative fixed wheel moves down 0.005mm (this 0.005mm equals the loose amount of the supporting pivot that pivots in its bearing).When the bearing fixing that keeps escape wheel was on bracing frame, they also followed this motion, and the axis that also is parallel to bracing frame moves down.The escapement wheels also can move down 0.005mm in its bearing, this bearing also moves.At last, the axis that can see the escapement wheels moves 0.010mm with respect to the center of fast pulley.Yet, because should be mobile in fact vertical with the plane that holds two axial lines, therefore, it is in fact to centre distance a ₁Not influence of value.

Fig. 2 B shows the escape wheel 11B at the second vertical position place of bracing frame that is located immediately at fast pulley 19 belows.Explained that as reference Fig. 2 A in vertical position, escape wheel moves down 0.01mm with respect to the center of fast pulley.In this example, escape wheel is vertical with fast pulley, the value addition of the centre distance between its amount of movement and escape wheel and the fast pulley.Therefore, in this example, centre distance a ₂Value be 3.51mm, the insertion depth of the fixedly gear teeth between the blade of escape wheel reduces 0.01mm.The reduction of insertion depth may cause occurring the gear defects that known being called " hit and met (butting) ", and this defect map is shown that transmit force descends or even to be expressed as the transmission gear driving-chain locked.

Fig. 2 C shows the escape wheel 11B at the 3rd vertical position place of bracing frame that is located immediately at fast pulley 19 tops.In this example of back, escape wheel is vertical with fast pulley and be located immediately on the fast pulley.Thereby, the mobile value that has reduced centre distance between escape wheel and the fast pulley that gear is downward.In this example, centre distance a ₃Value be 3.49mm, it is corresponding to the increase of the insertion depth 0.01mm of tooth between the blade of escape wheel of fast pulley.This increase can cause occurring the gear defects of known being called " drop (drop) ", and it is expressed as transmit force increases and erratic speed.

In brief, tourbillon can compensate the relevant variation of vertical position that is kept with clock and watch.Yet tourbillon itself can cause the speed instability.This instability comes from the following fact: the speed of top flywheel clock and watch trend towards along with bracing frame with respect to the orientation of vertical direction and change.

The tourbillon of describing in the previous examples is traditional tourbillon that pivots between two bearings 5 and 6.The flight tourbillon also is known, and wherein bracing frame is installed on the single pivot, and single pivot supports support frame as described above by its matrix.By this configuration, might omit top bearing and this Bearing Installation clamping plate on it, thereby make that the top of bracing frame is freely fully.In the vertical position of clock and watch, the tourbillon bracing frame dangles, and it is downward-sloping that gravity trends towards making the axis of bracing frame so.If around this single bearing sizable gap is arranged, this inclination also is enough to influence the insertion depth at the interlobate fixedly gear teeth of escape wheel so.

Summary of the invention

The objective of the invention is to overcome the defective of the tourbillon of describing just now.The present invention is by providing or meeting the timer structure of claim 1 or comprise that the time-meter movement of this timer structure reaches this purpose.

According to the present invention, fixed teeth and described at least two tooth elements mesh, rather than directly mesh with escape wheel.Described tooth element is spaced apart regularly along the circumference of fixed teeth, and they in turn with the gearing mesh of its encirclement.At last, with escape wheel engagement be gear.Like this, realize being connected between fixed teeth and the escape wheel by the gearing that comprises fixed teeth, described at least two tooth elements, gear and last escape wheel.Since with escape wheel engagement be not fixed teeth, but gear, therefore, we claim that this gear is " puppet " fast pulley.Be clear that, pseudo-fast pulley be placed on fixed teeth directly over and roughly be positioned at the axis inside of fixed teeth.

Be clear that very because according to the present invention, the similar escape wheel of pseudo-fast pulley is installed in the bracing frame, so the centre distance between this two-wheeled is not subjected to the influence in any gap of existence in the rotation of bracing frame pivot.On the contrary, the centre distance between each of described at least two tooth elements and the described fixed teeth easily along with bracing frame with respect to the orientation of vertical direction and change.Yet owing to the circumference of described at least two tooth elements along fixed teeth is spaced equably, so the value that reduces of one of centre distance is roughly compensated by the value of following increase of at least one another centre distance, vice versa.When this phenomenon has reduced significantly that clock and watch are in vertical position and the variation that is accompanied of the rotation of tourbillon bracing frame.

According to a particular embodiment of the invention, fixed teeth is made of the tooth of the wheel that is fixed to framework.According to the favourable distortion of this embodiment, pseudo-fast pulley has identical pitch radius with the wheel that is fixed to framework (fast pulley), therefore with identical speed rotation.Can be clear that do not rotate owing to be fixed to the wheel of framework, pseudo-fast pulley does not rotate with respect to framework yet.This feature means, for the tourbillon according to this embodiment, can use the escapement with the speed running identical with the speed of traditional tourbillon.

Fast pulley and pseudo-fast pulley also may have the tooth of equal number.Under these conditions, each in described at least two tooth elements can be gear.

According to another advantageous embodiment of the present invention, described at least two the tooth elements that are evenly spaced apart around pseudo-fast pulley are two tooth elements that occupy position relative on the diameter.It is two that this distortion allows the numerical limitations with the tooth element, thereby has simplified the design of tourbillon.

Description of drawings

During the description that only provides by non-limiting example below reading and carry out with reference to accompanying drawing, other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent.Wherein:

Fig. 1 is the partial section of top flywheel clockwork of the prior art;

Fig. 2 A, 2B and 2C describe is synoptic diagram with the relative position of three corresponding fast pulleys of vertical position of the bracing frame of top flywheel clock and watch of the prior art and escape wheel;

Fig. 3 is the fragmentary, perspective view according to the fast pulley of the top flywheel clockwork of first embodiment of the invention and bracing frame bottom;

Fig. 4 is the fragmentary, perspective view of fast pulley and the bracing frame of Fig. 3, especially shows the escapement wheels that are installed in the bracing frame;

Fig. 5 is the fragmentary, perspective view of the fast pulley and the bracing frame of Fig. 3 and 4, and wherein bracing frame is by completed assembled;

Fig. 6 shows the schematic plan of the gearing that is connected to each other according to the fixed teeth of second embodiment of the invention and pseudo-fast pulley and with them.

Embodiment

Fig. 3 shows the fragmentary, perspective view of the top flywheel clockwork of rotation fixed teeth of bracing frame and bottom.This illustrates the fast pulley 119A that its tooth forms fixed teeth.Fast pulley 119A is designed to be adjusted and be fixed on the framework of time-meter movement (not shown).The bearing (not shown), for example ball bearing is configured in the hub of fast pulley.What pass this bearing is the rotating shaft of gear 115 (not shown), and it is configured to rotate in the space below fast pulley, that exist between fast pulley and the dish.Rotation bracing frame 103 only shows its bottom among Fig. 3, be fixed to the rotating shaft of gear 115 coaxially, and rotation bracing frame 103 is integrally formed with gear 115.In order to allow to drive bracing frame 103 rotatably, gear 115 (being called the bracing frame gear) is designed to be connected to by the going train (not shown) of clock and watch with moving the going barrel of time-meter movement (not shown).

Bracing frame 103 carryings two gear 125A, 125B.These two gears pivot in bracing frame, and occupy position relative on the diameter on every side of fast pulley 119A.Though this is not shown in perspective, the blade of

gear

125A, 125B is meshed with fixed teeth.Bracing frame 103 further bearing wheels 127 (hereinafter " pseudo-fast pulley "), it has the diameter identical with fast pulley and the tooth of equal number.Pseudo-fast pulley pivots with one heart in the center of bracing frame and the rotating shaft of gear 115.Be also shown in, two

gear

125A, 125B also mesh with wheel 127.Thereby can know clearly that in an example shown, two gears are taken turns 119A as being embedded in and the breast wheel of taking turns between 127 turns round.Thereby these two wheels will because fast pulley 119A is fixed to the framework of time-meter movement, therefore, is taken turns 127 (pseudo-fast pulleys) and rotate with zero velocity with respect to framework with identical speed rotation.

Fig. 3 also shows the bottom of bracing frame 103 at its periphery loading bearing 126, and it is designed to receive the bottom of escapement wheels (cannot see) pivot in Fig. 3.

Except above-mentioned element with reference to Fig. 3 description, Fig. 4 shows first clamping plate 129 of bracing frame 103.Clamping plate 129 loading bearings 131, bearing 131 is designed to receive the bottom of hair-spring balance bar (cannot see) in Fig. 4.Can see that in this example, hair-spring balance pivots at eccentric position in bracing frame.

Yet, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention is applied in the top flywheel clockwork equally that wherein hair-spring balance is carried by bracing frame with coaxial position.It can also be seen that first clamping plate 129 are carrying three other bearings (unreferenced) further.The centre bearing and being used to that is provided for taking turns the top of 127 pivot receives two sidepiece bearings on top of the pivot of two

gear

125A, 125B.

Fig. 4 also shows the escapement wheels that are made of escape wheel 111B and escape wheel 111A.This illustrates: the blade of gear 111B inserts between the tooth of wheel 127.Can know clearly that when top flywheel clockwork turned round, the escapement wheels moved around wheel 127 as planet.Owing to can not rotate with respect to framework for pseudo-fast pulley, therefore, its tooth applies reacting force with the direction opposite with the planet rotation of escape wheel 111B.Thereby the fast pulley of pseudo-fast pulley and top flywheel watch and clock movement of the prior art plays identical effect.Yet according to the present invention, pseudo-fast pulley and escape wheel are all supported by bracing frame 103.Thereby in timer structure according to the present invention, the gravity that acts on bracing frame can not influence the value of centre distance between pseudo-fast pulley and the escapement wheels.

Refer again to Fig. 3, accessible is that fast pulley 119A on the one hand and the centre distance between on the other hand two gear 125A, the 125B change according to the transient bearing of support with respect to vertical direction easily.Yet, because

gear

125A, 125B occupy position relative on the diameter with respect to fast pulley 119A, the inverse variation compensation of the centre distance between wheel and another gear so any variation of the centre distance between one of fast pulley and gear all can be fixed.Like this, when the center variable in distance took place, the power that is transferred to one of gear reduced, and the power that is transferred to another gear increases, and vice versa.Therefore, can clearly know to have at least two these facts of the gear that is evenly spaced apart and allow to make the power of transmission to obtain balance.

Fig. 5 shows the bracing frame 103 of completed assembled.Fig. 5 especially shows hair-spring balance 133.

What also can know clearly is, under the situation that does not break away from the protection scope of the present invention that is limited by appended claims, can carry out various variations and/or improvement to the embodiment that constitutes explain principals, and this is conspicuous for those skilled in the art.Especially, fixed teeth needs not to be the tooth of fast pulley.Certainly, can also use, for example, the internal tooth of the table hat that is integrally formed with framework is used for fixing tooth.Fig. 6 partly shows an example that utilizes the fixed table hat to replace fast pulley.Fig. 6 is schematically illustrated to have a fixed table hat 219A of internal tooth 219, and by the pseudo-fast pulley 227 of bracing frame (not shown) carrying.Top flywheel clockwork according to this second embodiment further is included in

tooth element

225A, 225B, the 225C that pivots in the bracing frame and center on pseudo-fast pulley 227 (every 120 °) spaced apart equably.Among

tooth element

225A, 225B, the 225C each all constitutes by larger-diameter first gear with than second gear of minor diameter.These two gears are in the mode of a prolongation that is positioned at another and fit together.Every group first gear is meshed with the internal tooth of fixed table hat, and second gear is meshed with pseudo-fast pulley.In an illustrated embodiment, the ratio between the diameter of first and second gears is elected the ratio between the pitch radius that equals fixed table hat and pseudo-fast pulley as.

According to shown in embodiment, when tourbillon turns round, bracing frame and fixed table titled with and pseudo-fast pulley with one heart in a clockwise direction the rotation.Still in the mode of example, the rotational speed of bracing frame can be that per minute revolves and goes around.In these cases, in the reference frame of bracing frame, we can say that with respect to bracing frame, fixed table revolves the speed of going around titled with per minute and rotates in a counter-clockwise direction.The fixed table hat drives three

tooth element

225A, 225B, 225C in the counterclockwise direction with respect to the rotation of bracing frame.Three tooth elements then drive pseudo-fast pulley in a clockwise direction.Because the ratio between the pitch circle circumference of fixed teeth and first gear equals the ratio between the pitch circle circumference of the pseudo-fast pulley and second gear, therefore pseudo-fast pulley revolves the speed of going around with respect to bracing frame with per minute and is rotated in a clockwise direction.This just means that with respect to the fixed table hat, the speed that pseudo-fast pulley changes with per minute rotation 2 is rotated in a clockwise direction.

According to second embodiment, thereby pseudo-fast pulley is rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to bracing frame.In these cases, the escapement wheels must along with the standard time-meter movement in usually side's rotation in the opposite direction.Yet those skilled in the art know how to be manufactured on the escapement that a direction or the opposing party rotate up.Therefore, can not run into any special difficulty during their tourbillon in making this example.And, the favourable outcome of the pitch radius ratio that is adopted in the above-mentioned example be escapement with escapement can with common time-meter movement in the escapement frequency run identical with escapement.

Second embodiment has specifically described the following fact, and according to the present invention, pseudo-fast pulley needn't be zero with respect to the speed of framework.Unique necessary condition related to the present invention is relative to each other to rotate for fast pulley and bracing frame.And what can know clearly is that described " at least two tooth elements are provided with equably at interval around gear " needn't only be made of gear.They can be wheel and the gear of assembling each other equally.And the quantity of tooth element need not two or three.For example, can there be four, be intervally installed with 90 ° of angles.

Claims

1. timer structure, comprise escapement and hair-spring balance (133), described escapement comprises escape wheel (111A) and gear (111B), described escapement and described hair-spring balance are installed in rotation bracing frame (103), and described rotation bracing frame (103) is designed to pivot on the framework that is equipped with the time-meter movement that drives going barrel and by described driving going barrel driven in rotation; Also further comprise the ring tooth (119 that is called fixed teeth; 219), it is designed to be fixed to described framework at the rotation concentric position place with support frame as described above, escape wheel (111B) be designed to by gearing (119,125A, 125B, 127; 219,225A, 225B, 225C, 227) be connected to described fixed teeth, it is characterized in that: described timer structure further comprises gear (127; 227) at least two tooth elements (125A, 125B pivoting and in support frame as described above (103); 225A, 225B 225C), with the described gear that described escape wheel (111B) is meshed, is mounted freely on the position coaxial in the support frame as described above, and described at least two tooth elements (125A, 125B; 225A, 225B 225C) centers on the described gear (127 that meshes with described tooth element; 227) be provided with at interval equably, each in described at least two tooth elements all is designed to also and described fixed teeth (119; 219) be meshed, so that described escape wheel is connected to described fixed teeth.

2. according to the timer structure of claim 1, it is characterized in that described fixed teeth (119) is made of the tooth of the wheel that is fixed to described framework (119A).

3. according to the timer structure of claim 1, it is characterized in that described fixed teeth (219) is made of the internal tooth of the table hat (219A) that is fixed to described framework.

4. according to the timer structure of claim 2, it is characterized in that described gear (127) has identical pitch diameter with described wheel the (119A) that is fixed to described framework, and described gear is zero with respect to the rotational speed of described framework.

5. according to the timer structure of claim 4, it is characterized in that described at least two tooth elements be gear (125A, 125B).

6. according to the timer structure of claim 1, it is characterized in that described at least two tooth elements for two tooth elements occupying position relative on the diameter around described gear (127) (125A, 125B).

7. according to the timer structure of claim 1, it is characterized in that described at least two tooth elements for three tooth elements being provided with at interval equably around described gear (227) (225A, 225B, 225C).

8. time-meter movement, comprise and drive going barrel, escapement and hair-spring balance (133) with escape wheel (111A) and escape wheel (111B), described escapement and described hair-spring balance are installed in the rotation bracing frame (103), described rotation bracing frame (103) pivots on the framework of described time-meter movement and is connected to described driving going barrel with moving, thereby support frame as described above is driven in rotation; Described escape wheel (111B) by gearing (119,125A, 125B, 127; 219,225A, 225B, 225C, 227) be connected to the fixedly ring tooth (119 that is integrally formed with described framework; 219), the rotation of described fixed teeth and support frame as described above (103) is provided with one heart, it is characterized in that: described escape wheel (111B) is connected to described fixed teeth (129; 219) gearing comprises gear (127; 227) and at least two tooth elements (125A, 125B in support frame as described above, pivoting; 225A, 225B, 225C), the described gear that is meshed with described escape wheel is mounted freely on the position coaxial in the support frame as described above, and described at least two tooth elements (125A, 125B; 225A, 225B is 225C) around the described gear (127 that is meshed with described tooth element; 227) be provided with at interval equably, each in described at least two tooth elements all with described fixed teeth (119; 219) be meshed.